Biomarkers · Hematology

Platelet Count

Both low and high values go with higher risk of death. In NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019, each standard deviation above average goes with 1% lower risk of death. Risk rises at both ends: not comparable

Platelet Count and risk of death

NHANES, our fit with 95% CIPublished curve

Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher

Risk of death relative to each curve's own reference value, so the two curves need not cross 1 at the same point. The dotted vertical line marks the NHANES median.

Risk of death per SD (NHANES)0.99×95% CI 0.96–1.01 · 49,104 adults, 7,188 deaths

Published risk of death1.42×platelet count 301-450x10^9/L vs reference 201-250x10^9/L (95% CI 1.06–1.90) · Danish General Suburban Population Study (GESUS), adults >=20 years, register-linked

Value of the measurement+0.011gain in concordance within age bands; rank 35 of 56 · all tests

Platelet Count by age and sex

Each bar runs from the 5th to the 95th percentile, the darker part from the 25th to the 75th, and the tick is the median. Not a reference range or a target.

The percentiles as a table

Each row is one sex and age band: the values below which 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% of people fall (10^3 cells/uL), from the survey named in the row. Not a reference range or a target.
Sex	Age	5th	25th	Median	75th	95th	n	Cycle / source
All	20-39	172	214	247	289	371	1,457	NHANES 2017-2018
All	40-59	154	203	237	286	352	1,584	NHANES 2017-2018
All	60+	145	190	225	263	336	1,940	NHANES 2017-2018
All	all	155	202	237	281	352	4,981	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	20-39	167	205	230	266	335	698	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	40-59	151	195	224	255	327	740	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	60+	134	179	210	251	316	981	NHANES 2017-2018
Men	all	150	192	223	258	328	2,419	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	20-39	179	226	260	308	385	759	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	40-59	155	220	262	307	382	844	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	60+	160	202	235	275	336	959	NHANES 2017-2018
Women	all	164	217	253	301	377	2,562	NHANES 2017-2018

What studies found when this marker was changed

They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.

Measured changes in Platelet Count, study by study

1 effect with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Intervention	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
pharmacologic	Thrombopoietin receptor agonist (Eltrombopag 50 mg) in chronic immune thrombocytopenia	79% on eltrombopag vs 28% on placebo achieved platelet count 50,000-400,000 per μL at least once over 6 months	RCT	Cheng G, et al. Eltrombopag for management of chronic immune thrombocytopenia…
pharmacologic	Thrombopoietin receptor agonist therapy in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (meta-analysis of 7 studies, 348 patients)	Platelet count increased by a combined 69.52 ± 2.24 (thousand per uL); romiplostim subgroup about 70.11 ± 39.07, non-romiplostim TPO-RAs about 68.09 ± 82.58	meta-analysis	Gurumurthy G, et al. Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official…

Things that worsen it

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Condition or exposure	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
clinical	Essential thrombocythemia (JAK2 / CALR mutations)	Platelet count persistently ≥450 thousand/µL; JAK2 (64%) and CALR (23%) variants drive excess platelet production	review	Tefferi A, et al. Essential Thrombocythemia: A Review. JAMA. 2025;333:701-714.

What else moves this marker

They describe those study groups, not an individual, and an association is not a cause.

Diseases and conditions

Each row is one study: what it compared and the change it reported in this marker.
What	Effect on the marker	Comparison · population	Source
↓ Chronic mountain sickness · chronic mountain sickness vs healthy high-altitude residents	SMD -1.82 (95% CI -2.74 to -0.91)	chronic mountain sickness group vs healthy altitude-matched controls · Patients with chronic mountain sickness and healthy high-altitude controls (subgroup of 32-study meta-analysis)	meta analysis · PMID 35196458
↑ Stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease · stable COPD patients vs non-COPD controls	+13.39 10^3 cells/uL (95% CI 4.68 to 22.11)	stable COPD patients vs non-COPD subjects · 4455 stable COPD patients and 7128 non-COPD controls (26 studies)	meta analysis · PMID 33929925

Environmental and occupational exposures

Each row is one study: what it compared and the change it reported in this marker.
What	Effect on the marker	Comparison · population	Source
↓ Chronic high-altitude hypoxia (>=1 month) · residents chronically exposed to high altitude vs lowland controls	SMD -0.34 (95% CI -0.63 to -0.04)	chronic high-altitude exposure vs control · High-altitude residents and lowland controls (32 studies)	meta analysis · PMID 35196458

Sources

Risk curve: Vinholt 2016 (PMID 27586589): all-cause HR 1.42 (1.06-1.9) platelet count 301-450x10^9/L vs reference 201-250x10^9/L. Scaled to US values (NHANES).
Vinholt et al. Platelet count is associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality: A population-based cohort study. Thrombosis research. 2016;148:136-142.
NHANES curve: our Cox model adjusted for age and sex, NHANES 1999–2018 with linked mortality to 2019.

Map Platelet Count against another biomarker.

Map Platelet Count against another marker